Shake it Off!

Sometimes when I think back on my illustrious career in sports…all the way through High School…I can recall many games, situations, wins, losses and things my coaches or parents would say to me.  I had a flood of memories come rushing back in this weekend when my daughter asked me how old I was when I broke my first bone.  Amazingly, I have never broken a bone in my body!  (Knock on wood).  I can remember getting hurt or injured.  I remember one of my best friends hitting me during a drill at football practice at an odd angle and separating my shoulder.  I can remember being in a baseball game and being drilled in the back by a fastball that had to be coming at the speed of light or 55 mph…I have heard it both ways.  In both instances, the words came from my coaches and parents in the stands that I will never forget…SHAKE IT OFF!  Sure, that was easy for them to say…it wasn’t their arm dangling by a ligament or a nice welt and throbbing pain that I was also told “don’t rub it” as I struggled for breath as I gingerly walked to first base as a ‘reward’ for ‘taking one for the team.’

 

There are times when these words have rang true, but in a very different sense.  In life, there have been times when I have had those words come back into my memory at just the right time.  Situations arise, things happen and things that may sting for the moment or cause discomfort can be experienced.  Many times, I have had to shake it off and go on.  I had to get past it and look to the future task at hand just like heading to first or getting back up when knocked down.  Luke 9:5 reads this way,

And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.

Jesus was speaking to his disciples.  He was letting them know that they would be rejected.  Maybe for their message, maybe for who they were.  However, Jesus tells them not to worry about it.  He in reality says, Shake It Off, let those people deal with the consequences of their choices.  What is interesting is that in this passage, Jesus is referencing and entire town.  A WHOLE COMMUNITY of people!  To me, this reference infers a group of people uniting in opposition to your message or work ethic…to the point of wanting you gone!

This can be a crushing blow to a person.  Acceptance is one thing all humans crave.  When someone doesn’t accept you, it hurts you emotionally, mentally and physically.  Not everyone is going to accept you or what you stand for but that doesn’t mean you compromise what you believe.  STAND!  Shake it off!  If there is one thing I have learned, it is this.

It is better to be rejected by man for your beliefs than to be rejected by God for your unbelief.

Shake it off!

What are some things that have been ‘getting to you’ that you need to shake off?

In what areas of your life do you need to have faith in God?

 

Change…The most consistent thing in life!

I have been watching the Olympics!  I know, imagine that…it seems like it is on almost every station on television.  I must admit, I am surprised by some of the sports that are in the Olympics vs. some of the sports that are not in the Olympics.  I mean, how in the world is Trampoline considered to be a sport that the world should have athletes competing in and not softball or baseball?  I don’t get it!

What has been impressive to me is the dedication of these Olympic athletes.  I was particularly struck by the story of Sarah Robles, USA powerlifter.  She is dedicated to her sport!  In fact, part of her story is that her and her mother lived in their vehicle because they didn’t have money to pay for a hotel much less a home.  She works out two sessions per day with a private coach and was paid a stipend of $400/month from the US Olympic Committee.  She was definitely banking large sums of money…just kidding.  She left her home, moved to the training facility and began to work toward her dream of competing in the Olympics and representing the USA.  The interesting thing about her story is that she had never really done any powerlifting.  She was involved in track & field with the throwing events.  Her coach wanted her to do some lifting so she could throw further.  That is when her life CHANGED…

Even though people face change all the time, usually it is a scary proposition at best.  Change is uncomfortable.  Change is often times painful.  Change is consistent!  Whether or not we like to admit it, we are all faced with it.  I personally was confronted with change back in 2009.  I had to change my lifestyle.  Weighing in at 420 pounds and not being able to participate in the life of my kids jolted me into a reality that I had to make a change.  I had to choose, life or death.  I chose life!

 

I believe that there are things and times in our lives when God places seasons of change in our lives.  Our job is to figure them out and respond to His timing.  I want to share with you 3 Keys of Personal Change.

1.  The Excitement Key – Where and in what areas of  your life are you excited?  Ask yourself the question, “What would I do if I knew I could not fail?”  Pursue that change!  Why wait on life to pass you by and miss out on the things that you are most passionate about?  God has placed in you different gifts, talents and abilities to  do those extraordinary things He wants you to do.  Will you succeed or will you succumb?

2.  The Conviction Key – What are the things that guide your decisions?  What filters the way you live your life?  Personal conviction can be one of the most beneficial driving forces in a person’s life.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.(Hebrews 11:1 NRSV)

Dictionaries usually define conviction as a fixed or strong belief. Conviction is really much more than that. Your convictions include your values, commitments and motivations.

I like the definition of conviction I once heard from the great Bible teacher Howard Hendricks: “A belief is something you will argue about. A conviction is something you will die for!”

Our convictions determine our conduct. They motivate us to take a stand and to act according to our values.

3.  The Determination Key – John Mason wrote in his book, An Enemy Called Average, that “Faith that moves mountains always carries a pick.”  That statement sums up the process of determination that change brings to our lives.  I was watching ESPN and watched the story of a young lady named Bree McMahon.  I have to admit, it is a very moving story.  I highly recommend you watching this story…it will inspire you to become more determined in your pursuit of the change that God has placed in your life.  You can see the story called the Comeback here.

I leave you with 3 questions today regarding change…

1.  Where are you excited?

2.  Where are you convicted?

3.  Where are you determined?

When you find those answers, it is time to take up your pick and begin to move mountains.

Faith, Focus, Finish

The time is here!  This Sunday, I will compete in my first marathon…thats right!  I said MARATHON!  26.2 miles!  Anyone can run 26 miles, it’s that last .2 that is the doozie!  I love that commercial.  One of my friends really put my race in perspective before we have even run the race.  He said,

The race is the end of your training.  Imagine the race as your victory lap with a bunch of other people.

This helps me more than you can imagine.   As I look back over my life’s running journey…from punishment running in sports, to running with my friends to blow off steam, to when I weighed 420 lbs. and couldn’t run to the end of my cul-de-sac which was only .1 miles.  I have reflected back to my family’s trip to Disney World and the physical misery I was in just walking the parks with my kids.  I hurt!  I reflected on the lack of health issues that I had other than my weight.  However, the mental toll was numbing my mind.  I had become immune to people’s care for me.  I had almost given up on really living my life and becoming a permanent unhappy person that wore a clown’s smile to hide the pain.   I started thinking about all these things and I really began to realize that what Scripture says in James 4:14,

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog–it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

I was in a fog!  I needed a light…that light came in just the right time.  It was an encouraging word from my wife and a hug that really changed my thinking.  It was the smile on my kid’s faces that I got to see playing sports and enjoying life.  It was hearing my dogs bark because they were hungry.  I realized at that point that I had value…sure, it was my family, but they needed their husband and dad.  However, for a long time, I had been present, but missing at the same time.  I had to have FAITH in the process!  I started running again.  The road became a place where I could FOCUS on me and spend some time with God…alone.  It was on the road that He did His greatest work in me.  By the way, I realize this can really read as a self-centered post…but hey, its MY blog…:)…there is a point to this.  Now, it is time to FINISH!  I want nothing more than to win the battles in my life now so that my kids don’t have to fight them later on.  In other words, I want to set the example for them to conquer their dreams and ultimately become what God wants them to become.  People ask me all the time,

Why do you run?

My standard answer is…”Because I can!”  My real answer is…I run for my wife, my kids, my health, my hungry dogs.  It is amazing to me that the God of the Universe would even take time to work on me during some of these runs.

On March, 4, 2012, I will start the Rock N Roll New Orleans Marathon.  Lord willing, some 5.5 hours later, I will Finish 26.2 miles.  Why?  Because like Scripture says in Hebrews 12:1,

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

This is the race that is set before me!  This is for the day that I couldn’t make it to the end of my cul-de-sac.  This is for the day that I hated the “Happiest Place on Earth”!  This is for the day that my kids thought they were fat.  This is for the day that I just physically hurt and couldn’t throw a baseball or softball with my son and daughters.  This is for the day that I just didn’t want to go anywhere with my wife.  This is for YOU!  Yes, YOU!  Why You?  Because believe it or not, I am in your “great cloud” of witnesses.  I am cheering for you!  I want you to experience ALL that God has for you and your families.  I have FAITH in my training.  I have FOCUS on why and for who I run.  I will FINISH the race set before me.  After all, my life is just a vapor…why not enjoy it with those I love?

What “race” is it that you need to run? 

Why do you “run”?

When will you take your “victory lap” and will those you love get to cheer you on?

My prayer is that you will start your “race” by getting to the end of your cul-de-sac…Faith, Focus, Finish!